U.S. Factories Begin to Hit Growth Stride

Purchasing Managers' Index Shows Seventh Straight Month of Expansion

By

Brenda Cronin

Updated Jan. 2, 2014 3:54 p.m. ET

The nation's factories finished the year on a high note and looked to be building momentum heading into 2014.

The Institute for Supply Management's monthly index, which is based on a survey of purchasing managers, hit 57 in December. That was down slightly from 2013's high of 57.3, registered in November. Readings above 50 indicate...